You might have noticed (if you catch my social media occasionally) that recently I’ve been boasting sharing the reviews I’ve been getting from recipients of a #HookerRing
The most popular options are stamped with a metal punch, to give a repeated design over a strip of silver, that I’ve previously sawn, filed and sanded to size
I had a photo of all of the variables on my hand to share with you here, but it must have looked dangerously saucy; WordPress has blocked it !
Here’s one of the variants instead:
Well, I’m still not as good at stamping metal as I’d like to be, which often means that I miss-hit a punch when I’m trying to stamp the pattern in. Especially if I sneeze at the same time as trying to hit it (note to self, keep fewer flowers in my studio and do more dusting)
I’ve also been crocheting since May*, making my first proper project, which has been FABULOUS. Slow, and often I’ve had to redo a square 4 times, and I redid all of the first 8, but oh, I’ve enjoyed it far more than I thought was possible. So much so that when I finished it yesterday, I began a cardigan for #MrG.
I’m in the midst of developing some stitch markers to add to my gadget range (I had a request from a customer) and the first batch have been very successfully beta tested by a couple of people, so I’m now about to adapt the design to try and accommodate their super constructive feedback.
One of the drawbacks of prototypes is the potential waste. Of course, the drawback of not making and testing a prototype is greater waste 🙂
Although silver has increased (and continues to) in price massively this year, it’s still my time that is the most costly part of a small item, so I hate to waste anything and I often make my prototypes in silver because that is easier for me to recycle successfully than copper.
I learned from my crochet that a stitch keeper was essential (for people who don’t crochet; when you set it aside the working stitch is effectively a very loose loop of thread that’s easy to catch and then undo all your earlier stitches) I had been using using a plain, large jump-ring to catch this, but when I created a shadow stamp again on one of my pieces, I had a light bulb moment, and made a stitch keeper to match my hooker ring.
It works really well, and so I’m going to add them to my shops in the next couple of days.
The stamped bit is made from the rest of the ruined hooker ring blank – I stamp all the way down the strip, filing then sanding either end, sawing the design off, filing and sanding the new end again, and then once I have all my tiny pieces, I grip them in my pliers and do some more filing and sanding. This is far more cost effective than tossing the whole 7cm of waste into the ‘melt it down’ pot
Then I take any long left over and thick wire ends from other projects, file and sand (there’s far more filing and sanding involved in jewellery making than you might think!) and hammer one end to flatten, finally soldering on the design. That then anneals the piece, enabling me to coil it.
A bit of pickling and a trip in Betty, and boom.. Stitch keeper 🙂
*I’ve been making the Natures Walk blanket using the Open Fields colourway, with the addition of some purple ( I wanted it to pick out all the colours in our front room) and some extra squares from Elle. I found the combination of charts, and the traditionally written pattern, in conjunction with Bella Coco instructional videos and my books incredibly helpful. Links to all these resources here:
Black Sheep Wools (where I ordered the pattern and yarn)
Bella Coco website
Elle website
Link to brilliant Crochetopedia book (but bought in a local shop, not here!)
The rest of the #ScrapHappy gang are:
Kate , Gun, Titti, Heléne, Eva, Sue, Lynn, Lynda,
Birthe, Turid, Susan, Cathy, Tracy, Jill, Claire, Jan,
Moira, Sandra, Linda, Chris, Nancy, Alys, Kerry, Claire, Jean,
Joanne, Jon, Hayley, Dawn (well, you are here already), Gwen, Connie, Bekki,
Sue L, Sunny, Kjerstin, Vera, and Nanette


It sounds time consuming and labour intensive, but it’s so pretty I’m sure there are loads of people out there who’ll want one! And I so admire your crochet. I’m not at all good at the yarn arts, so anyone who can do them always has my admiration 🙂
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Thanks, Kate. That’s very kind. I am ridiculously proud of myself. I think it’s the ting that’s brought me most pride in any accomplishment!! Of course, it make all go hideously wring now I’ve progressed to a garment!!
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You are clever! And very patient to do all that filing and sanding which will never be seen but is essential. Like most things crochet gets quicker with practice!
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thanks! I can’t believe how much I have achieved!
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brilliant idea to recycle silver scraps into stitch markers!
and wow, your CAL is looking fabulous!
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Thanks Claire, I’m so pleased with it. it’s just having it’s border blocked, and then I hope to take some proper ‘ta-da, finished’ photos!
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I don’t know what impresses me more, your stick holder thingie or that amazing crochet. I was imagining just basic stuff but that looks almost like lace! Bravo.
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thanks. I think it must be a really simple pattern, but it’s been so clear with the diagrams too.
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lol – simple to you maybe. :p
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no, it really wasn’t, but I’m not the only person to have learned using it!!
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I’ll take your word for it. Still think it looks great. 😀
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oooh me again! I’ve just had a look in your etsy shop ^^ Can feel a bit of early xmas shopping coming on, so when you get an order from a Claire in France, it’s me ^^
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AH!! Thank you very much. I see your order, and I’ll have it on the way on Tuesday 🙂 Hugs, and thanks SOO much. x
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Strings and yarns behave themselves for me, unless I advance toward them with a crochet hook in hand – then they instantly snarl and bite…I can’t believe you have only been crocheting since May – the nature’s walk (sampler?) blanket is just gorgeous! And genius idea to make a loop holder!
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it’s really all in the clarity of the pattern. And my patience in redoing so much!!!! Thanks very much for the compliment. x
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your crocheted blanket is beautiful, colours are soft and lovely and the different patterns look old fashioned and perfect.Can’ believe you’ve only been crocheting for 6 months. The stitch holder seems like a lot of work, really sweet.
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that’s really kind, than you. It was a great pattern and wool pack. Used it last night so we were #SmugAsABug ha ha
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Your hook ring is a brilliant idea. when I crochet I put the wool around my middle finger and then bend it higher than the other fingers. It adds to the pressure on my fingers and hands. So the ring would do the same and save many sore hands. Well done you!
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Oh, and I love your crochet too. Fancy being able to do that after only a couple of months!
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Sorry, me again….but my email of your post shows the photo of the rings on your fingers, but it is missing when I follow the link to the actual post. Go figure.
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yes! Mine did that too, I have no idea why, unless it wasn’t that that was preventing it publishing to twitter . who knows!! Thanks very much for making the time to let me know.
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lol, I really think it’s down to the clarity and simplicity of the patterns. But thank you,
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Thank you. I have to hope for another moment of genius now!!
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Thanks to the last picture, I really understand the use of the ring now. I wonder if it was the name of the picture that got it banned? LOL
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ha ha ha, it could well be, I hadn’t thought of that. Strangely people signed up for email notification of the blog received the original photo in their email. I’m not tech savvy enough to understand why!! Have a great weekend,
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